Government and PSAC Working Together on Mental Health

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 27, 2015) -

Today, Minister Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced they will work together on their commitment to improving psychological health and safety in the federal workplace.

The work of the Joint Task Force will include identifying ways to better communicate the issues of mental health challenges in the workplace, reviewing practices from other jurisdictions, and reviewing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and identifying how its objectives shall best be achieved within the Public Service.

Quick Facts

• The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, released in 2013, is an initiative of the Government's Mental Health Commission, and the Canadian Standards Association and the Bureau de normalisation du Québec.
• Mental health conditions account for approximately half of all disability claims in the federal public service. The most common mental illness is depression which accounts for approximately half of all mental health conditions.
• At present, there are a number of policies and programs in place to support employee health and well-being in the workplace (e.g. health and safety legislation and regulations, harassment prevention training, values and ethics and the Employee Assistance Program).

Quotes

"Mental health issues have long been important to me. I am prepared to work with all bargaining agents, as we take this step in improving how we deal with mental health challenges in our workplaces, and reducing the stigma that is often attached to mental illness."

Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board

Associated Link

National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace

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